Why did the USSR preserve the national republics?@FelixGoldberg My point was that even for such a hurried action (in the wake of Hiroshima), when there was no time for careful staging, Soviet Union didn't just hold the conquered land (which it could surely do). I argue that Soviet leadership eventually still felt obliged to give the land to some national government (of course as long as it was a socialist/communist government).

Feb11

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Why did the USSR preserve the national republics?@Joe In case of Poland, de facto invasion was said to be liberation of the working people of "Western Belorussia" and "Western Ukraine" oppressed by capitalists :) When "re-liberating" these territories in 1944, USSR brought a separate government, albeit this time of Polish ethnicity. The very first Polish city that became available (Chełm) was made a national capital immediately, and Soviet Army could "support" it. Even in other case of a very hurried 1945 invasion of Manchuria, national governments were still beneficients (PRC and North Korea).

Why Russia didn't embrace Western culture and principles?The Western characteristics you list are not principles; these are the practical long-term results of the actual principles. You don't obtain strong democracy by saying "enough, this country would have now strong democracy, c'mon everybody".

What motivated Germanic tribes to accept Christianity?"I can understand why certain classes in Roman society adopted Christianity"... Can you? The more I think about it, the more I see that there is some characteristic of the polytheism that I'm unable to grasp. I cannot put myself into position of the ordinary men so rapidly, consistently and persistently converting to a monotheistic religion previously alien to them. But the same scenario just repeats over and over through the history; why do you think the reasons were different?

No speed limit on German highways - why?Historically, all over the world the limits were set to limit deaths in road accidents. Your extraordinary claims would need to be backed up by extraordinary historical sources.